Retort for processing canned products



July 7, 1970 G. F. HOWARD RETORT FOR PROCESSING CANNED PRODUCTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 3 0, 1968 mm N4 j 3 F.

Y I d budaaw July 7, 1970 c;. F. HOWARD RETORT FOR PROCESSING CANNED PRODUCTS- 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 30, 1968 m M M0 M r 72 E F m V ww r 4 O M F x f 5 V x m 6 a w m\ 4 M 1 A 4 W 893 6 A. 1,0M4 M F United States Patent 3,518,932 RETORT FOR PROCESSING CANNED PRODUCTS Grover F. Howard, P.(). Box 5, Westville, Okla. 74965 Filed Sept. 30, 1968, Ser. No. 763,600 Int. Cl. B65b 55/06 US. Cl. 99-251 40 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A retort or cooker for processing canned products which has its longitudinal axis vertically disposed and is provided with an inlet opening that is located at its upper end through which cans may be introduced. The cans may be removed through the inlet opening or through a separate Outlet opening located adjacent the lower end of the retort. The opening or openings are closed by closure members located within the retort and are forced into fluid tight engagement with the wall of the retort by wedge means associated with the retort and closures. When the retort is provided with an independent outlet, it is also provided with a false bottom that slopes from the rear and sides of the retort toward the outlet opening.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a processing device and more particularly to a retort or cooker into which canned products or similar articles are introduced for treatment.

The invention described herein constitutes an improvement Over my earlier U.S. Pats. No. 3,209,673 and 3,338,- 151, issued, respectively, on Oct. 5, 1965, and Aug. 29, 1967. In my earlier issued Pat. No. 3,209,673, there is disclosed a processing device for cans or similar articles wherein the retort or cooker is mounted to tilt about a horizontal axis and is completely Open at its top. The open top is closed in a fluid-tight manner by a cover member. This cover member had to be lifted vertically from the retort before it could be filled with articles to be processed and then lowered Onto the retort. When the processing of the cans is completed, the cover must again be removed from the retort before the retort can be tilted to spill the processed cans from the open top. Due to the fact that the cover must be raised and lowered with respect to the retort opening, a longer time is required to process a batch of articles. Moreover, considerable additional structure and space is required to effect the removal and the return of the cover to the retort.

In the device disclosed in my later Pat. No. 3,338,151 many of the objectionable features of my earlier Pat. No. 3,209,673 were eliminated, particularly, the need for a removable cover and the structure necessary to effect its removal and return to the retort. More specifically, an inlet opening for the introduction of the cans or other articles to be processed is provided at the top of the retort and an outlet opening for the discharge of such cans or other articles is provided adjacent the bottom of the retort. Each of these openings is closed by a closure member actuated to open and closed positions by fluid piston means. Since the outlet opening is located above the bottom of the retort, the retort is arranged to be tilted about a horizontal axis in order to discharge all of the articles processed therein. Therefore, although the retort disclosed in my later Pat. No. 3,338,151 overcame many of the objectionable features of the retort disclosed in my earlier patent, it was still necessary to mount the retort so that it could be tilted and to provide the mechanism that was necessary to effect such tilting.

In order to overcome the necessity of mounting retorts so that they pivot about a horizontal axis and discharge the cans or other articles processed therein, retorts have been built that are fixedly supported on legs so that the 3,518,932 Patented July 7, 1970 longitudinal axes thereof are inclined with respect to the vertical and their bottoms slope toward their discharge openings. While such retorts constituted a considerable improvement over prior known retorts, because of the inclination of their longitudinal axes, they were expensive to build, unstable in use, unsightly, and required a considerable amount of floor space.

Taking into consideration the foregoing deficiencies of my prior retorts, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a can or similar article processing retort which overcomes such deficiencies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a retort that has its longitudinal axis vertically disposed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a retort that has its longitudinal axis vertically disposed and is provided with a false bottom made up of a central section that slopes from its rear to its outlet or discharge Opening and side sections which slope both toward the central portion and the discharge opening.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a retort in which the inlet opening and/or discharge opening is provided with a frame member that is closed by a closure member or door that is provided with wedge means that cooperate with other wedge means supported by the frame member to force the closure member or door into tight sealing contact with seal means located on the frame member.

A further object Of the invention is to locate the closure or door members within the retort so that pressure within the retort supplements the wedging action of the wedging means that force the closure or door members into tight contact with sealing means supported on an associated frame member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a retort having a false bottom made up of a central section and side sections secured to the central section in such a manner that vibration of the central section vibrates the entire false bottom.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a delivery tray associated with the discharge opening that is actuated by a cable attached to the door or closure member in such a manner that when the door or tray is raised to discharge its contents, the delivery tray is raised from a position in which it hangs closely adjacent the wall of the retort to an extended position.

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those specifically set forth above will become apparent after reading the following description thereof. Such description refers to the annexed drawings presenting preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a retort constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the retort of the present invention with a part of the retort wall shown broken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taekn along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the retort with parts thereof shown broken away;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, and. especially FIG. 1, it is to be noted that there is illustrated therein an article processing retort constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated by the reference numeral 10. The article processing retort is illustrated as having a generally cylindrical shape with its longitudinal axis disposed in a substantially vertical direction. Although the retort has been illustrated as generally cylindrical, it is to be understood that it could, without departing from the spirit of the invention, have a different shape, for example, it could have the shape of a parallelpiped so long as its axis is vertically disposed. The article processing retort illustrated in the drawings has a cylindrical central portion 12 to which is secured, by welding or by any other conventional means, a domed upper end 14 and a domed lower end 16. The central cylindrical portion 12 and the domed upper and lower ends 14, 16 may be made of any conventional material so long as it meets the requirements of strength and durability. The lower dome 16 is provided with support legs or stanchions 18 of such length that when their free ends rest on the ground or other supporting surface, the longitudinal axis of the retort will be vertically disposed.

The retort 10 is provided with article inlet opening means, indicated, generally, by the reference numeral 20 and article delivery opening means designated, generally, by the reference numeral 22.

Mounted within the retort 10 there is a false bottom 24 which is made up of a central section or portion 26 and side portions 28 and 30. The side portions 28 and 30 may be made integral with the central portion 26 by any well known securing means but as illustrated in FIG. 6, the side portion 28 is secured to the central portion 26 by joining both the central portion 26 and the side portion 30 to a conventional flange member, such as illustrated at 32 and the side portion 30 to the central portion 26, in a similar manner, that is, by a flange member 34. The side portion 30 is perforated at 36, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The side portion 28 is similarly perforated, as illustrated at 38 in FIG. 6.

The central portion 26 of the false bottom 24 is constructed and disposed in the retort 10 so that it slopes from a rear region of the cylindrical central portion 12 toward the article delivery opening means 22. The side portion 28 of the false bottom 24 is arranged in the retort 10 so that it slopes not only from the retort cylindrical wall 12 toward the central portion 26 of the false bottom 24 but also in a direction toward the article delivery opening means 22. In a like manner, the side portion 30 of the false bottom 24 is arranged in the retort so that it slopes not only from the retort cylindrical wall 12 toward the central portion 26 of the false bottom 24 but also in a direction toward the article delivery opening means 22.

By this arrangement of the false bottom in the retort 10, there is a natural tendency for the articles placed therein for processing to gravitate and be discharged through the article delivery opening means 22. Although the processed articles would be discharged from the retort 10 in a satisfactory manner by gravity, a vibrator means 40, actuated by steam introduced to the vibrator 40 through steam pipe 42, is provided in order to reduce the time required to effect discharge of the processed articles from the retort 10.

The processed article delivery means 22 is shown in its general relation to the retort 10 in elevation in FIG. 1 of the drawings and in section in FIG. 2. The details of the processed delivery means are, however, shown in enlarged detail in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The processed article delivery means 22 includes an opening 44 formed in the wall of the cylindrical central portion 12 of the retort 10. Into this opening, and on opposite sides thereof, there is secured by welding, or any other conventional method, spaced angle members 46, 46. To these spaced angle members 46, 46 there is secured in any suitable manner second spaced angle members 48, 48. A frame member 50 is secured at each of its sides to both angle members 46 and 48. A processed article delivery outlet opening closure member 52 is arranged to be moved between a closed and an open position with respect to an opening 54 formed in the frame member 50. Secured to an internal end surface 56 of the frame member 50, by spot welding or any other suitable method, is a pair of spaced parallel rods 58, 60 which extend completely around end surface 56 of the frame member 50. A sealing means or gasket 62 is forcibly inserted between the parallel rods 58, 60 and it, too, extends completely about the frame member 50. Secured in any suitable manner to each of the angle member 46, 46 is a pair of longitudinally spaced wedge members 64, 66. Mounted on the closure member 52 there is arranged in horizontally spaced relation pairs of longitudinally spaced wedge members 68, that are arranged to cooperate, respectively, with the longitudinally spaced wedge members 64, 66 to force the closure member into fluid-tight sealing relationship with the sealing means or gasket 62 when the closure member 52 is moved from an open position to a closed position.

A closure member actuating arm 72 is secured to the closure member 52 and extends outwardly through the frame opening 54. To the closure actuating arm 72 there is rigidly connected a bifurcated pivot means 74 which through a further bifurcated arm 76 is connected to the piston rod 78 of fluid actuated fluid motor 80 that is pivotally supported at 81 to the external wall of retort 10.

The angular members 46, 46, 48, 48 which extend upwardly within the interior of the retort 10 to guide the movement of the closure member 52 to its open position, are open at their upper ends. To preclude matter, which would block upward movement of the closure member 52, entering into the guide space fomed by the members 46, 46, 48, 48, a deflector member 82 is secured to the interior wall of the retort 10 and extends about and over angular members 4 6, 46, 48, 48.

A processed article delivery tray 84 is pivotally mounted by a hinge means 86 below the processed article delivery opening means 22. The delivery tray 84 normally hangs in a substantially vertical position close to retort 10 but when the closure means 52 is opened by the action of fluid motor 80 to deliver processed articles, a cable 86 attached at one end to the delivery tray 84 and at its other end to an arm 88, which extends outwardly from closure member 52, raises the delivery tray to a substantially vertical position.

In the drawings which illustrate the present invention, an inlet opening arrangement, closure construction and operating mechanism therefore for introducing articles to be processed into the retort 10 are shown which are substantially identical with the corresponding arrangement and construction disclosed and described for the delivery of processed articles from the retort. Therefore, it is not thought that a detailed description of this inlet opening arrangement and closure means therefor is necessary. Accordingly, in the drawings, elements in the article inlet arrangement that are similar to corresponding elements of the article delivery arrangement have been designated 'by a corresponding primed reference numeral.

The retort 10 is provided with a steam inlet pipe 90 that terminates in a perforated spray ring 92. The retort at its upper end is also provided with a hot water inlet pipe 94, an overflow pipe 96 and a connection 98 for a pressure relief valve. At the lower end of retort 10 there is provided a Water drain 100, a pressure vent 102, and a cold water pipe 104.

While the invention illustrated herein has been described as having an article inlet opening means similar to that disclosed for delivering processed articles from the retort 10 through the article delivery opening means 22, it is to be understood that the article inlet opening means illustrated herein could, if desired, be dispensed without detracting from the other novel aspects of the present invention and replaced by a simple fluid-tight lid similar to that employed in home or restaurant pressure cookers.

The retort described herein may be operated in the following manner. When articles, such as canned food, are to be processed, fluid under pressure is admitted into the fluid motor 80'. The application of this fluid under pressure to the fluid motor 80 will cause the piston (not shown) of the fluid motor '80 to drive the piston rod 78' in a direction to move the closure member 52 away from the article inlet openings means 54'. After the articles to be processed have been introduced into the retort 10, fluid under pressure is admitted to the fluid motor 80' in a manner to reverse the direction of movement of the closure member 52 and close the article inlet open-. ing means 54. Should the processing of the articles introduced into the retort require only hot water, such hot water is introduced into the retort 10 through the hot water inlet pipe 94 until, if desired, it overflows through overflow pipe 96. In the processing of articles that require the application of steam pressure above the water in the retort 10, steam may 'be admitted to the retort 10 through steam inlet pipe '90 and annular spray ring 92 after the desired amount of water has been supplied to the retort 10 or any excess contained therein drained through water drain pipe 100. Should processing of the articles require only the application of steam thereto, steam alone may be introduced into the retort 10 through steam inlet pipe 90 and annular spray ring 92. In order to relieve any excess pressure that may develop in the retort 10, a conventional relief valve (not shown) may be attached to the pipe or fitting 98-.

As previously described, the retort 10 is provided near its lower end with a false bottom 24 that extends completely across the retort 10. The central portion 26 of this false bottom 24 slopes from the rear of the retort 10 toward the article delivery opening means 22. The side portions of the false bottom 24 adjacent the central portion 26 likewise slope toward the central portion 26 as well as toward article delivery opening means 22. Due to the provision of such a sloping, false bottom 24 in the retort 10, particularly when the false bottom 24 is associated with a fluid operated means for vibrating the false bottom 24, the need for mounting the retort for pivoting about a horizontal axis or of supporting the reort 10 so that its longiutdinal axis is inclined with respect to the vertical has been eliminated.

The article inlet opening means 20, as well as the article delivery opening means 22, represent a substantial improvement over similar constructions found in the prior art. More specifically, the closure members 52 and 52' for the unprocessed article inlet opening means and for the processed article delivery opening 22 are forced into fluid-tight engagement with the retort 10 by cooperating positive wedge means as well as by the fluid pressure present in the retort 10. Since the construction which forms the fluid-tight sealing of the closure member for the unprocessed article inlet opening means 20 is substantially the same as that of the processed article delivery opening means 22, a description of the operation of the latter will be suflicient for a clear understanding of the former.

If it is assumed that the closure member 52 has been opened by fluid pressure applied to the piston 80, in the proper direction, then processed articles may be discharged through the article delivery opening means 22 onto the delivery tray 84. The delivery tray 84, meanwhile, has been elevated by the cable 86, which is attached to both the delivery tray 84 and the closure member 52. By reason of the specific sloping construction of the false bottom 24 of the retort 10, articles contained in the retort will tend, by gravity, to be discharged through the article delivery opening means 22. The discharge of these processed articles will, however, be assisted by the action of the vibrator 40 acting on the false bottom 24.

When all the processed articles: have been discharged through the article delivery opening means 22 and it is desired to process a new batch of articles, fluid under pressure is admitted to fluid piston 80 on its opposite side in order to move the closure member 52 in a direction to close in article delivery opening means 22 and cause the delivery tray 84 to be lowered until it abuts a stop member 106. As the closure member approaches its closing position the pairs of wedge members 68, will move into cooperative engagement with wedge members 64, 66 to force the closure member 52 into fluid-tight engagement with seal or gasket means 62. This fluid-tight engagement will be assisted by any pressure contained in retort 10.

In a similar manner, after the articles to be processed have been placed within the retort 10 through the article inlet opening means 20, fluid pressure is applied to piston in a direction to close closure member 52'. In moving to this closed position, the closure member 52' will be positively forced into fluid-tight engagement with retort 10. Fluid pressure contained in the retort 10 will also assist in maintaining closure member 52' in fluidtight engagement with the retort.

From the above description of the operation of applicants retort, it will readily be apparent that the objects of the invention initially sought to be accomplished have been fully attained. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for processing articles comprising a pressure-tight retort including wall means and having a longitudinal axis vertically disposed; means for introducing articles to be processed into said retort; a processed article delivery opening means in the wall means of the retort adjacent a lower portion of said retort; a closure means movable between open and closed positions with respect to said delivery opening means; a false bottom means disposed in said retort, said false bottom means having a central portion that slopes forwardly from the rear of said retort toward said article delivery opening means and side portions each of which slope both forwardly and laterally toward said article delivery opening means.

2. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 1 wherein said central portion and said side por tions of said false bottom constitute an integral unit.

3. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 2 wherein said false bottom is mounted so that it may be vibrated.

4. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 3 wherein means is provided to effect vibration of said false bottom.

5. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 4 wherein the means to elfect vibration of said false bottom is associated with said central portion of said false bottom.

6. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 5 wherein said means to effect vibration of said false bottom is fluid actuated.

7. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 6 wherein said fluid for eifecting vibration of the false bottom is steam.

8. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 7 wherein means are provided for the introduction of hot water to and the drainage of hot water from said retort.

9. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 8 wherein means are provided for the introduction of steam above hot water present in said retort.

10. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 9 wherein the means for introducing steam into the retort constitutes a perforated element adjacent the up per end of said retort.

11. A device for processing articles as defined in claim 9 wherein said perforated element is annular in shape.

12. An apparatus for processing articles comprising a pressure-tight retort including wall means; means for introducing articles to be processed into said retort; a processed article delivery opening means in the wall means of the retort; closure means movable between open and closed positions with respect to said delivery opening means; and cooperable wedge means associated, respectively, with the wall means of said retort and the closure means for forcing the closure means into fluidti-ght contact with the retort wall means.

13. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 12 wherein said closure means is located within the interior of said retort.

14. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 13 wherein the article delivery opening means includes a frame means mounted on an angle member supported in an opening in the wall means of said retort.

15. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 14 wherein the angle member supports the wedge means associated with the wall means of the retort.

16. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 12 wherein the cooperable wedge means includes spaced pairs of cooperating wedges.

17. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 16 wherein the closure means is located within the interior of said retort.

18. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 17 wherein the article delivery opening means includes a frame means mounted on an angle member supported in an opening in the wall means of said retort.

19. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 12 wherein said closure means is located within the confines of said retort; said article delivery opening means includes a frame means and sealing means are mounted on said frame means in a position to be engaged by said closure means when said closure means is forced into fluid-tight contact with said retort means.

20. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 19 wherein said sealing means is removably secured to said frame means between a pair of spaced rod means mounted on said frame means and that extend completely around the opening in said article delivery opening means.

21. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 20 wherein the closure means is actuated by a fluid motor means.

22. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 21 wherein the closure means is guided in its movement between open and closed positions by guide means located within the retort.

23. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 22 wherein the guide means comprises a plurality of open ended, spaced, vertically disposed angle members.

24. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 23 wherein a deflector means is provided over the open ends of said vertically disposed angle members.

25. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 24 wherein a pivotally mounted article delivery tray is associated with said article delivery opening means.

26. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 25 wherein said article delivery tray is biased by gravity to depend from said retort in a substantially vertical downward direction and means are associated with said closure means and said article delivery tray whereby said article delivery tray is elevated to an article discharging position upon the opening of said closure means.

27. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 1 wherein a pivotally mounted article delivery tray is associated with said article delivery opening means and biased by gravity to a position depending from said retort in a substantially vertical downward direction and means are associated with said closure means and said article delivery tray whereby said article delivery tray is elevated S to an article discharging position upon the opening of said closure means.

28. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 12 wherein a pivotally mounted article delivery tray is associated with said article delivery opening means and biased by gravity to a position depending from said retort in a substantially vertical downward direction and means are associated With said closure means and said article delivery tray whereby said article delivery tray is elevated to an article discharging position upon the opening of said closure means.

29. An apparatus for processing articles comprising a pressure-tight retort including wall means; article inlet opening means in the wall means of said retort; closure means movable between open and closed positions with respect to said article inlet opening means; and cooperable wedge means associated, respectively, with the wall means of said retort and the closure means for forcing the closure means into fluid-tight contact with the retort means.

30. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 29 wherein said closure means is located within the interior of said retort.

31. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 30 wherein said article inlet opening means includes a frame means mounted on an angle member supported in an opening in the wall means of said retort.

32. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 29 wherein said closure means is located within the interior of said retort; said article inlet opening means includes a frame means mounted on an angle member supported in an opening in the wall means of said retort and said angle member supports the wedge means associated with the wall means of the retort.

33. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 32 wherein sealing means are mounted on said frame means in a position to be engaged by said closure means when said closure means is forced into fluid-tight contact with said retort means.

34. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 33 wherein said sealing means is removably secured to said frame means between a pair of spaced rod means mounted on said frame means that extend completely around the opening in said article delivery opening means.

35. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure means is located within the retort and the wall means of the retort and the closure means are, respectively, provided with cooperable wedge means whereby when said closure means is moved to its closed position with respect to the outlet opening means said closure means is forced by said Wedge means into fluid-tight contact with said retort.

36. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 35 wherein said article delivery opening means includes frame means mounted in the wall means of said retort and said wedge means includes spaced pairs of cooperating wedges.

37. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 35 wherein the article delivery opening means includes frame means and sealing means mounted on said frame means in a position to be engaged by said closure means when said closure means is forced into fluid-tight contact with said retort means.

38. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 37 wherein said sealing means is removably secured to said frame means between a pair of spaced rod means mounted on said frame means and that extend completely around the opening in said article delivery opening means.

39. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 29 wherein said closure means is located within the interior of said retort; said article inlet opening means includes an inlet opening frame means mounted on an angle member supported-in an opening in the Wall means of the retort; the angle member supports the wedge means associated with the wall means of the retort; a processed article delivery opening means is provided in the wall means of said retort; said article delivery opening means includes a delivery Opening frame means mounted on a second angle member supported in a second opening in the wall means of the retort; second closure means movable between open and closed positions with respect to said article delivery opening means and cooperable Wedge means associated, respectively, with the wall means of said retort and the second closure means for forcing said second closure means into fluid-tight contact with the retort.

40. An apparatus for processing articles as defined in claim 39 wherein said retort has its longitudinal axis vertically disposed and includes a false bottom means having a central portion that slopes forwardly from the rear of said retort toward said article delivery opening and side portions, each of which slope both forwardly and laterally toward said article delivery opening; and wherein a pivoted mounted article delivery tray is associated with said article delivery opening means, said tray being biased 10 by gravity to depend from said retort in a substantially vertically downward direction and having means associated therewith and with the closure means for said article delivery opening means whereby said article delivery tray is elevated to an article discharging position upon the opening of said closure means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,770 5/1927 Durkee 99330 3,209,673 10/1965 Howard 99-251 3,235,103 2/1966 Loveless 99-359 X 3,338,151 8/1967 Howard 99-251 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 99370 

